Combined filling and capping machine



Feb. 4, 1936. 5 F ANDERSON 2,029,299

COMBINED FILLING AND CAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 30, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 o y@ j -f "Tlfai I-m-w @Y if' y Y Mgg Li-8 I .98

.las u 95 Lisa Feb. 4, 1936. s, F ANbERSON 2,029,299

COMBINED FILLING AND CAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 30, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /ALl WWW W UQHSmQu-S S. F. ANDERSON COMBINED FILLING AND CAPPING MACHINE Filed sep-t. so, i932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 llllllllllllllhulnmnnnmunn Feb. 4, 1.936. s, F, ANDERSON y 2,029,299

COMBINED FILLING AND CAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 30, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 4, 1936 uiten STATES :PATENT oFFicE CoMBmED Fume AND CAPPING Swan F. Anderson, Rockford, Ill.

Application September 30, 1932, Serial No. 635,482

17 Claims. (Cl. 226-76) This invention relates to the filling and capping of cups or containers into which liquid or semi-liquid materials such as ice cream are dis' pensed. l

The Vgeneral object of the present invention is to provide an automatic combined cup-dispensing, filling and capping machine which is capable of high speed production of filled containers, which is reliable in operation and readily adaptable to containers of different sizes, and relatively simpler in construction than machines for the same 'purpose heretofore produced.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for conveying cups'from one station of the machine and presenting the cups to the different mechanisms to operate thereon in a novel manner enabling the latter mechanisms to be simplied'in construction and the cost of manufacture of the machine as a whole to be reduced accordingly.

The invention also resides in the construction of the cup conveyor and presenting mechanism by which adjustment of the machine for cups of A different sizes is obtained.

ing parts of the machine.

' the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary frontelevational view showing a portion of the filling lmechanism in section.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken respec-` tively along the lines 5-5 and 6--6 'of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the main operat- Fig. 8 is a perspective sectional view the line 8-8 of Fig. 1. u Y

' Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective ,view of one of the cup elevating devices.

Fi'g. 9a is a perspective view of one of the conveyor belts.

Figs. 10 and l1 are sectional views taken along the line Ill-I0 of'Fig. 1.

taken along Figs. 12 and 13 are perspective views of dinerent parts of the capping mechanism.

Figs. 14 and 15 are sectional views taken respectively along the lines lli-I4 and |5|5 lof Fig. 11.

In the form selected for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in an automatic machine for filling cups I6 with material such as ice cream and applying caps or disks l'l to the open ends of the filled cups. The cups commonly used have downwardly tapering body portions adapted to receive the cap snugly at the upper end and providing an inwardly opening annular groove I8 in which the cap becomes seated with the withdrawal tab I9 on the cap projecting upwardly. The cups to be filled are stacked in a cup dispenser and released one-by-one onto a conveyor by which they are moved to lling position beneath a hopper 2|' containing the ice cream and thence to a capper 22.

The main frame of the machine comprises a post 23 upstanding from a pedestal 24 and having forwardly projecting arms 25 secured to a vertical plate 26 ongthe upper end of which the hopper 2| is mounted; 'I'he capper, which is also stationarily mounted, is supported by a bracket 21 projecting from the post. Slidable upon vertical ways formed by the plate 26 is a bracket 26,to .which is secured a flat bar 28 disposed in a verticai plane and supporting a horizontal table 29 extending transversely of the machine beneath the cup dispenser, the filler and. the capper. A bracket 30 supporting 'the cup dispenser is secured to the table at the end thereof opposite the capper.

The vertical position'of the table is determined by a screw 3| interposed between the bracket 26a and a nut on the lower arm 25 and adapted to be turned by a handle 32 to adjust the machine according to the height of the cups to be lled. This adjustment may be gauged by placing a cup to be filled upon the table and turning the handle until the cap line or groove I8 on the cup is at the level of a mark on the' plate 26.

A11 of the mechanisms above referred to are driven from a main drive shaft 33 which makes one revolution in each cycle of the machine during which, in the present instance, one cup is fed onto the conveyor by the dispenser 20, the

second preceding cup on the conveyor is lled from the hopper, and the fourth'preceding cup is closed by the capper 22. Herein the shaft projects rearwardly from the plate 26 and is journaled intermediate its ends in the post 23 being driven by an electric motor 34 through the me- 55 dium of a belt 35 and having a worm and wormwheel connection 36 with the shaft.

The conveyor by which the cups are advanced with a step-by-step motion from the dispenser through the filling and capping positions runs continuously during operation of the machine and for purposes to appear later, comprises a series of endless belts 31 arranged in spaced parallel relation on drums 38 and 39 rotatably supported on opposite ends of the bar 28. As shown in Fig. 3, the upper portions of the drums are disposed in openings in the table 29 so that the upper straight runs o f the belts are disposed above the table. To avoid the necessity of providing adjusting devices, each belt preferably comprises a resilient wire of small gauge wound into helical form as shown in Fig. 9a and possessing sufficient resiliency to maintain the belt taut on the supporting drums. In their movement by the conveyor, the cups are held against movement laterally of the conveyor 'by guide bars 39 on the table adjustable to accommodate cups of different diameters and positioned to locate the cups properly relative to the filling and capping mechanisms.

The. conveyor is driven through a connection constructed to permit of the vertical adjustment above referred to while the connection remains engaged. For this purpose, the shaft 43 on which the drum 38 is carried is connected by bevel gears to one` end of a shaft 4| rotatably supported on the rear side of the bar 28 and having its opposite end connected to the shaft 33 by bevel gears 42, oney of which is rotatably sup.- ported by a sleeve 43 loose on the shaft 33. The shaft 4I is thus adapted to pivot about the center of the drive shaft during vertical adjustment of the table 29 which is made possible by virtue of the splined connection 44 (Fig. 2) between the gear 45 and the shaft 4| which connection provides for the necessary extensibility of the connection. Preferably, driving power is also applied to the conveyor drum 39 which is accomplished through the medium of a shaft 46 rotatably supported by lugs 41 projecting forwardly from the plate 29 and having its opposite ends connected by bevel gearing to the drum shafts.

During filling and capping each cup is elevated from the conveyor. For this purpose and to enable each cup dropped by the dispenser to be lowered gently onto the conveyor, horizontal Y/platforms 48, 49 and 50 are located respectively .-at the dispensing, filling and capping stations and adapted tobe raised and lowered in timed relation to the machine cycle.` Each platform is disposed in an opening cut out from the table 29 and comprises a rectangularly shaped block having upwardly opening parallel slots I to receive the belts 31 and permit the platform to be raised to the desired height above the conveyor. To guide each platform vertically, the block has a depending leg 52 (Fig. 9) with square lugs 53 projecting therefrom and cooperating at their upper ends with correspondingly shaped notches in the table 29 and at their lower Vends with notches in a bracket 54 secured to the bar 29. The platforms 48, 49, and 50 are actuated respectively by cams 55, 56, and 51 on the shaft 46 which, by virtue of the bevel gearing employed, operates at the same speed as the main drive shaft and in timed relation to the machine cycle. Each cam acts on a depending lug 58 on the platform and the differentcams are shaped to raise their platforms substantially simultaneously. For reasons to appear later, the cam 51 permits the-.platform 50 to fall quickly after the uppermost position is reached while a relatively long dwell surface 59 on the cam 56 holds the cup raised for a substantial portion of the cycle to allow proper time for filling.

To properly position the cups for presentation to the ller and capper by the elevating devices above described, stops are provided which are adapted to be projected into the path of the cups on-the conveyor to arrest the motion of the cups as they reach filling or capping positions opposite the respective platforms, the stops being retracted before the platforms are lowered, thereby allowing the conveyor to carry the cup forwardly to again rest upon the belts 31. In the present embodiment, the stops are in the form of pairs of fingers 60 and 6I (Figs. 3 and 8) upstanding from a bar 62 supported for endwise movement longitudinally of the conveyor by two horizontal shelves 63 each secured to and projecting forwardly from la slide 64 guided for vertical movement by brackets 65 which project forwardly from the plate 28. Projecting rearwardly from the slides are arms 66 which constitute the followers for cams 61 fast on the shaft 46 and shaped to raise the bar 62 andproject the fingers 60 and 6| up through the conveyor belts and platforms 49 and 50 justbefore the platforms are raised by the cams 56 and 51. The upper ends of the fingers are thus positioned to engage the cup near the base thereof thus arresting the motion of the latter in proper positions. Retraction of the fingers beneath the conveyor occurs before the platforms reach their lowermost positions,

the cups being then free to move forwardly with the belts 31. Y

By shifting the fingers 60 and 6I in a direction longitudinally of the conveyor, it will be apparent that the machine may be adapted for filling and capping cups of different sizes or diameters. Such adjustment is effected in the present instance by turning a thumb nut 68 (Fig. 3) having its periphery projecting into a notch in the bar 62 and threading onto a screw 69 projecting from one of the shelves 63 along the forward edge of the bar. As the nut is turned in one direction or the other, the bar is shifted inan endwise direction and the positions of both sets of fingers are varied as desired.

In a machine of the present type, it is desirable to space the cup-dispensing, filling and capping stations substantial distances apart. To accomplish this and also provide for high production without increasing the speed of thepconveyor unduly, the present invention provides for the advance of each cup only a part of the distance between stations in each machine cycle so that during actual lling and capping an empty cup is disposed between the cup-dispensing and filling stations and a filled cup is disposed between the filling and capping stations. Thus the time required to advance the next cups into filling and capping positions is substantially reduced. This method of operation renders it desirable to bring the intermediate cups into timed relation to the machine cycle which may be accomplished by the addition of extra pairs of fingers 10 and 1| on the bar 62. The auxiliary stops are raised at the same time as the other fingers and serve to arrest the motion of two of the cups in the intermediate positions referred to thereby preventing such cups from being carried into engagement with the platforms 49 and-50 while the latter are raised during filling and capping of the ad- "28 includes a cylindrical casing '14 secured to the table bracket 38 and enclosing and slidably supporting a sleeve 15 for vertical vmovement above the platform 48. The cups to be dispensed are held in a vertical stack by the sleeve and guide rods 16 upstanding therefrom. Release of v the cups one at a time from the lower end of the stack is effected by raising and lowering the sleeve 15 relative to the casing, the movement Iof `the platform 48 being utilized for this purpose.

To this end, a rod 11 (Fig. 3) is guided for vertical reciprocation in the casing 14 with the lower end positioned for engagement by. the platform 48 and the upper end attached to a lateral projection on a flange 18 at the upper end ofl the sleeve 15.

vAround the periphery of the sleeve are two horizontal rows of recesses having inwardly tapering walls 19 terminating in circular openings at the inner peripheral surface of the'sleeve and providing seats for balls 88 and 8|. The size of the balls relative to the thickness of the sleeve 15 is such that when the balls are opposite the cylindrical inner surface 82 of the casing 14, portions of the balls will project from the inner surface of the sleeve. But when the sleeve is shifted vertically to bring the balls opposite taper-walled recesses 83 in the casing, the balls may move to a position flush `with the inner sleeve surface.

`When the platform 48 vis in its lowermost position, the surface 82 will be opposite the lower row of balls 8| which will be projected through .the sleeve 15 as shown in Fig. 6 so as to engage the lowermost cup near its upper edge thereby supporting the stack. At this time, the balls 88 of the upper row which are disposed below the lip of the second cup will be positioned in the recesses 83. Now as the sleeve is raised during upward movement of the platform, the stack of cups is raised by the balls 8| and the balls 80 become cammed inwardly into engagement with v88 acting between the arm and the head of a screw 81 extending through the arm adjacent the arm fulcrum- 88. When the sleeve 15 is lowered as shown in Fig. 6, a surface 89 depresses the second cup so that the latter holds the released arm 85 retracting the freeend 98 outside of the inner surface ofthe sleeve. As the sleeve rises, the arm is moved upwardly by the spring 86 and the end 98 is projected through the sleeve at a point between the lips of the first and second cups. In the continued upward movement of the sleeve butafter retraction of the balls 8|, the end 98 engages the lower cup from above thereby stripping the cup from the stack. When the re'- leased cup strikes the platform 48,`itsy',upper end is disposed above the lower end -portion of the cup against tipping.

The weight of the cup stack is transferred from the upper row of balls 88 to the balls 8| and the stripper arm 85 is retracted in the subsequent downward movement of the sleeve as the platform is lowered. Such transfer is effected as the balls 88 are retracted by coming opposite the recesses 83 which allows the stack to fall, this occurring after the balls 8| have been projected inwardly by engagement with the surfaces 9| and 82.

In the downward movement of the platform 48, the cup thereon is lowered gently onto the conveyor belts 31 thereby reducing to a minimum a tendency of the cup to be tipped over upon contacting the belts which occurs when the upper end of the released cup is below the lower end of the lowermost cup in the stack, thereby allowing the released cup to be advanced out of the dispensing station. A segmental skirt 92 on the casing 14 encloses the upper end of the cup effectually preventing tipping of the latter.

'I'he cup is filled with ice cream while held in raised position on the platform 49 beneath an outlet opening 93 at the lower end of a chamber 94 communicating with the lower ends of two cylinders 95 communicating at their upper ends with the hopper. The outlet is controlled by a valve member in the form of a slide 96 adapted to close the outlet when positioned as shown in Fig. 3 and having an opening 96a therein adapted to be brought into register with the outlet by movement of the slide to the left from said positake place. Thus, the valve is allowed to openA under the action of the spring |82 as soon as the platform reaches its uppermost position and is closed quickly and substantially simultaneously with lowering of the platform.

Means is provided which acts automatically to prevent opening of the hopper outlet and idle discharge of cream therefrom in the event that there is no cup on the platform 49 at the time when the cam |83 normally permits the spring |82 to act. Herein this means comprises a latch in the form' of a lever |84 pivoted at |85 on the plate 26 andhaving an adjustable shoulder |86 at its rear'end adapted for interengagement with a hook |81 on the lever |88. Projecting forwardly from the bifurcated forward end of the lever |84 are two feeler arms |88 disposed beneath the hopper on opposite sides of the outlet 93 thereof in position to be engaged by the upper edges of a cup on the platform 49. When the lever |84 is in retracted position holding the valve closed, the excessive weight of the arms |88 raises the rear end of the lever into engageable relation to the hook |81. IIf .during subsequent release of the lever |88 to the action of the spring |82, there is no cup on the platform 49, the lever and thehook |81 will remain engaged, thereby preventing operation of the valve bythe spring. But, if a cup is in proper position upon t'ne platform, the arms 88 willbe raised and the latch lever rendered ineifectual.

Ice cream from the hopper is discharged in measured quantities through the hopper outlet by downward movement of two pistons |89 disposed in cylinders 95 communicating at vtheir lower ends with the outlet valve chamber. Each piston is mounted for a limited degree of vertical movement on the lower end of a rod H0 secured at its upper end to the free end of an arm H| pivoted at its other end to the post 23 and constantly urged downwardly under the action of a contractile spring H2 and weights H3. Downward movement of the arm IH is controlled and upward movement eifectedby a cam H3 on the shaft 33 acting on the lower end of a follower bar H4 vertically slidable on the frame plate 26 and engageable at its upper end with the .arm HI. 'I'he cam H3 is shaped topermit lowering of the arm IH substantially simultaneously with opening of the outlet valve, the movement being reversed upon closing of the valve.

During downward movement of the pistons |09, liquid material from the hopper will be forced into the cup on the platform 49. Tipping or displacement of the cup by the force of the liquid thus discharged therein is prevented eifectually by the feeler arms |08 which engage the upper edge of the cup and present the same rmly against the platform.

On the end of each rod H0 is a valve disk H5.

adapted, in the initial downward movement of the rod, tomove relative to the piston and become seated upon the piston proper. In the continued downward movement of the rod during which the openings 96 and 98a are in register, the cream Within the cylinder will be v,forced through the outlet into the cup on the platform 49. When the arm lH| is next raised, the rod H0 moves independently of the piston proper for a short distance raising the valve member from its seat thereby providing an opening through which the' cream may ilow into the cylinder 95 in the continued upward movement of the rod. It will be apparent that the lengthof the piston stroke and therefore the amount of cream dispensed in each cycle may be varied by adjusting the length of the piston rods.

In order to prevent the cream in the cylinder 95 from being placed under pressure in the event that the hopper outlet valve is held closed as above described.at the time when the arm H is normally actuated, the feeler lever `|04 is provided with a hookv H6 (Figs. 2 and -7) which, when the arms |08 are lowered, is moved in be# neath a shoulder. 'H1 on the bar H4 thereby preventing the latter from being lowered lby the spring H2 inthe event that no cup is in engagement with the arms when the cam H3 releases the bar'for'bdownward movement. If, however, the arms are engaged and raised by a cup, the latch hook H6 is withdrawn and the bar H4 permitted to move downwardly in the normal way. 4

Referring now to the capper 22,` the upward movement of the' platform 50 with a cup supportedthereon is utilized to force a cap linto the open end of the cup. .To this end, a disk .H8 (Figs. 10, 11, and 15).adapted to be received in the open end of the cup is secured to the lower end of a. rod 'I |9 secured at its upper end to a bracket arm v|20 projecting forwardly from a plate |2| carrying guide rods |22 in which the caps are stacked,v the-*plate itself being supported by and detaohablypclamped by bolts |231 to a.

" plate |24 integral with 'the capper supportingv bracket 21. Slidable vertically on the rod H9 isa housing |25 enclosing the disk H8 and having an upwardly converging annular surface |26 for centering the cup relative to an annular shoulder |21. y

the cup, the cap being held against rising by the disk y| |8 and thus forced off from the fingers |28 into the open end of theoup, the edges of the cap becoming seated in the groove I8 as the housing reaches its uppermost position. The housing is lowered by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 1l as-the platform 50 is retracted lowering the cup onto the conveyor.

The guideway |29 extends through a lateral extension of the housing |25 and, when the latter 'l .is in its lower position (Fig. ll), the guideway is alined with a guideway defined by ledges |30 (Fig. 14) on the under side of the plate |2|. At the rear endof the latter guideway, the plate |2| is apertured to receive'the lowermost cap |1 in the stack which is arranged with the finger tabs H9 on the caps projecting rearwardly.

' The lowermost cap is fed out of the stack along the guideways by a shuttle |3| reciprocable forwardly and backwardly through the housing |25 and supported from the plate |24 by a slide |32 also guidedfor endwise movement by the plate |24. The slide and shutter are adjustable longitudinally thereof by means of a nut |33 threading yonto the rear end of the shuttle with its periphery disposed in an upwardly opening notch in the slide. Projecting downwardly from the slide |32 through a slot |34 is a pin |35 having a pivotal connection with one end of a lever |36 (Figs. 1 and 10) pivoted intermediate its ends on a vertical stud- |31 and having its other end joined to a link |38 (Fig. 2). The latter is guided for endwise reciprocation by the post 23 and constitutes the follower of a. barrel cam |39 on the shaft 33 shaped to shift the link backwardly and thereby feed the shuttle forwardly shortly after the capped cup is lowered out of engagement with the housing |25 and the latter has moved downwardly to bring the cap guideway into alinement with the guideway in the plate |2|. link |30 is moved forwardly to retract the shuttle from the housing |25, this occurring prior to the succeeding upward movement of the platform 50. Pivoted at |40 on the shuttle |3| and urged upwardly by spring |4| housed within the shuttle are two arms |42 having shoulders |43 upstanding therefrom adapted to engage the lowermost.

cap in the stack as the shuttle moves forwardly.

Thus, during each forward stroke of the shuttle and slide, a cap is normally removed from the stack and slid along the guidcways |30 and |29 into a position directly beneath the disk, the shoulders |43 stopping just short of the peripheral edge of the plunger H3.

Means is provided for preventing engagement of the lowermost cap I1 by the shoulders |43 during advance of the shuttle |3| in the event that there is already a cap within the housing |25. that is to say, in the event that the cap fed into the housing in the previous cycle of the machine in the preceding upward movement of the plat- Later, the

form 50. The meansiherein employed for this purpose comprises a member operable in the forward or cap-feeding movement of the shuttle to raise the stack of caps above the level of the shoulders |43 and thus maintain the shuttle ineffectual until the housing |25 has been raised by a cup on the platform 50. Said member .may take the form of two connected .bars |44 in the guideway |45 on opposite sides of the shuttle a the forward end of the latter.

. Normally, when the shuttle is retracted (Fig. pins |46 projecting into the guideway |45 from the sides thereof are disposed opposite the at surfaces |41 of notches on the undersides of the bars and in this position of the bars, the upper surfaces of the latter are substantially ush with the shuttle permitting the stack of caps to rest upon the latter and the lowermost cap to be engaged by the shoulders |43 inthe next forward movement of the shuttle. In the latter part of this stroke but after the caphas vbeen slid intothe housing |25, the forward end |48 of the slide |32 strikes a rod |49 joining the forward ends of the bars |44 which are shifted forwardly in the final movement of the slide. In such movement, inclined surfaces |50 at the rear ends of the notches |41 ride upon the pins |45 which thereby raise the bars bodily, finally becoming seated in sockets |5| (see Fig. 11). The entire stack of caps is thus elevated so that if the bars |44 are allowed to remain thus shifted forwardly, the lowermost cap will not be engaged in the succeeding forward movement of the shuttle.

Preferably, the upward movement of the housing |25 by a cup on the platform 50 is utilized to indicate removal of the cap from the housing and to cause retraction of the bars |44 before the next movement of the shuttle. For this purpose,

a campsurface |52 is formed on a lateral extension of the housing |25 in a position to be disposed immediately beneath cooperating surfaces 1 |53 on the bars |44 when the latter are shifted forwardly as shown in Fig. 11. Thus, as the housing 125 is raised by the cup, the bars |44 are cammed backwardly presenting the notches |41 to the pins which permit the bars to lower the stack of caps and again bring the lowermost cap into the path of the shoulders |43. In the event that there is no cup on the platform 5|! when the latter is raised, the positions of `the bars |44 will not be disturbed and the lowermost cap will be A |24 and the feeding mechanism, the amount and cost of equipment required to be changed in order to adapt the machine to caps of widely varying sizes is reduced to a The plate I2 the cap guides |22, the capping housing |25 and the plunger H8 may be assembled as a' unit capable of being detached readily simply by releasing the clamping bolts |23. i

Afterk being lled and capped as. above described, each cup is lowered onto theV conveyor and then transferred to an auxiliary conveyor `'constituting an extension of the mainl conveyor and adapted to be moyed into an out-of-the-way positionvwhen the machine is not in use. The latter conveyor comprises jal seriesof endless belts- .|54 -(Fig. l)v alternatingwith thebelts 31 and extending aroundthadrum/M and a pulley (not shown) rotatably supported upon the free end of a collector tray |55. The opposite end of the tray is rigid with a plate |56 pivotally supportedA by the shaft 40 and adapted to be secured in different positions of angular adjustment by tightening a clamping bolt |51 projecting through a slot |58. By virtue of this mounting, the tray may be swung upwardly into vertical position thereby contributing to the compactness of the machine when not in use.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a combined cup-dispensing, lling and capping machine which is rendered simple and inexpensive in construction and capable of high output by virtue of the novel manner in which the diierent mechanisms are coordinated for operation by a common drive unit and the cups are conveyed from one position to another and in timed relation to the machine cycle. Simply by adjustment of the stop's for positioning .the cups at the different stations or by adjusting the vertical position of the conveyor, the latter and the filling mechanism may be adapted to accommodate cups of widely varying sizes. The various safety mechanisms eifectually maintain the cups properly positioned and in clean condition ready for packing.

No claim is made herein to the constructions of the filling and capping mechanisms per se which form the subject matter of copending divisional applications Serial No. 750,950, filed November 1, 1934 and Serial No. 755,714, filed December 3, 1934.

I claim as my invention: l

1. A filling and capping machine comprising, in combination, mechanisms providing cup-dispensing, filling andv capping stationsarranged in spaced relation, a conveyor for supporting a succession of cups in spaced relation beneath said mechanisms and movable continuously past said stations, three platforms each located at one of said stations and adapted when raised to elevate a cup from said conveyor and present the same to one of said mechanisms, a common powerdriven means operable to raise and lower said platforms in timed relation, means at the cupdispensing station actuated by each upward movement of the platform at such station to drop a cup onto the platform,"means for discharging material in measured quantities into the cups elevated by the platform at said lling station, and means actuated by the upward. movement of the cup on the platform at said capping station to apply a`cap to such cup.

2. A lling and capping machine comprising, in combination, filling and capping mechanisms stationarily mounted in spaced relation, an endless belt having a horizontal portion for supporting a series of cups in spaced relation beneath said mechanisms, means for advancing said belt continuously to carry the cups past said mechanisxns successively, stop means at the respective stations for interrupting the advance of each cup while permitting continued advance of said belt, and elevating devices at said stations movable vertically while permitting continued movement of said belt and operable to raise off from said conveyor the cup in engagement with said stop means, and means for operating said stop means and elevating devices in timed relation to the movement of said conveyor.

` 3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of mechanisms providing cup- -dispensing and lling stations arranged in spaced relation. a conveyor for supporting' a succession of cups in spaced relation beneath said mechanisms and movable continuously past said stations, means at the filling station adapted when actuated to elevate a cup from said conveyor and present the same to4 said filling mechanism, means adapted when actuated to dispense a cup onto said conveyor at the cup-dispensing station, and a common power ydriven means operable to actuate said elevating means and said cup-dispensing means in timed relation.

4. A filling and capping machine comprising, in combination, mechanism providing filling and capping stations arranged in spaced relation, a conveyor for supporting a succession of cups` in spaced relation beneath said mechanisms and movable continuously past said stations, means at the lling station to elevate a cup from the conveyor and present the same to one of said mechanisms, means for causing a cap to be applied to a filled cup at the capping station, and a common power driven means for actuating said elevating meansand said capping means.

5. A filling and capping machine comprising, in combination, vmechanism providing cup-dispensing, filling andcappingv stations arranged in spaced relation,- a conveyor for supporting a succession of cups in spaced relationbeneath said mechanism and movable continuously past said stationselevating devicesat each oflsaid stations movable in timed relation to raisethe cups a predetermined `distance above said conveyor, stops at said filling and capping stations adapted to be projected into the path of said cups to arrest the motion of two cups above the elevating devices at said'latter` stations before upward.

movement of the latter devices, and means at said cup-dispensing station operated by movement of the elevating device at such station to ldrop a cup thereon while the device is positioned above saidconveyor.

6. In a filling and capping machine, the combination of filling and capping mechanisms stationarily mounted in spaced relation, an endless conveyor beneath said mechanisms driven continuously and adapted to advance a series of cups one-by-onepast the mechanisms, a pair of stops movable into and out of the paths of said cups to arrest the motionl of the cups opposite said mechanisms', power-driven means for advancing and retracting said stops, platforms opposite said mechanisms adapted to be raised and lowered in timed relation to the movement of said stops and when raised to elevate from the conveyor the cups engaged by said stops whereby to present such cups to s'aid mechanisms respectively, and means by which said stops may be shifted longitudinally of said conveyor to adapt the machine for handling cups of different sizes.

7. In a filling and capping machine, the combination of an endless belt conveyor for'supporting a succession of cups in spaced relation, filling and capping mechanisms arranged in spaced relation above said conveyor, a pair of platforms opposite saidV mechanisms adapted when raised to engage cups on said conveyor and present the same to said mechanisms, a pair of upstanding projections arranged in xed spaced relation to each other and mounted for upward movement into the path of cups on said conveyor whereby to arrest the motion of cups opposite said mechanisms, means supporting said projections for bodily vertical movement and adjusting movement in unison and in a direction longitudinally ci the conveyor to vary the positions of said projections, and power-driven means adapted to raise said projections into the path of said cups and then raise said platforms in timed relation to the movements of said conveyor.

|8. In a filling and capping machine, the combination of an endless belt conveyor for supporting a succession of cups in spaced relation, filling and capping mechanisms arranged in spaced relation above said conveyor, a pair of platforms opposite said mechanisms adapted when raised to engage cups on said conveyor and present the same to said mechanisms, a bar disposed below said conveyor and arranged for bodily vertical movement, spaced projections upstanding from said bar adapted when the bar is raised to be elevated through said platforms into the path of cups on said conveyor whereby to interrupt the movement of two cups directly above said platforms, a shaft extending along said conveyor, means on said shaft for raising and lowering said bar and platforms successively, and adjusting means by which said bar may be shifted longitudinally of said conveyor.

9. In a machine of the character described, a continuously operating horizontal'conveyor for supporting a succession of cups in spaced relation, a mechanism operatively associated with the open endsof successive cups presented-thereto by said conveyor, a platform movable vertically and periodically to elevate successive cups on said conveyor to said mechanism, a stop movable into and out of the path of the cups on said conveyor and adapted when disposed in said path to be engaged by the next cup on the conveyor and arrest the motion of the cup in a position above said platform, and means for raising and lowering said stop and platform in timed relation.

10. In a machine of theA character described, the combination of a continuously moving endless conveyor, mechanism for dispensing cups oneby-one onto said conveyor, filling and capping mechanisms arranged in spaced relation along said conveyor, a plurality of stops operated in timed relation to said conveyor and movable into and out of the paths of the cups on said conveyor, said stops acting when -withdrawn to permit advance of all of the cups and when disposed in said paths to arrest the motion of one cup in a position intermediate said dispensing and lling mechanisms, a second cup opposite said filling mechanism, a third cup intermediate said filling and capping mechanisms, and a fourth cup opposite said capping mechanism.

1.1. In a machine of the character described. the combination of .lling and capping mechanisms arranged in spaced relation, a continuously moving endless conveyor for advancing a succession of cups beneath said mechanisms successively, a stop movable into and out of the path of the cups to arrest the movement of one of the cups opposite onev of said mechanisms,` a second stop movable into and out of the path of the cups at a point between said last mentioned mechanism and an adjacent mechanism, and means operating in timed relation to the movement of said conveyor to actuate said stops.

12.- In a machine ofthe character described, the combination of an endless continuously moving conveyor for ladvancing a succession of cups along a predetermined path, a mechanism for operating upon each cup in a predetermined position, a stop movable into and out of the path of said cups and operable when in said path to arrest the motion of the next cup in said position, means for elevating the cup thus stopped to said mechanism in timed relation to said conveyor and then to lower the cup, a second stop adapted to be projected into the path of the next cup on said conveyor and interrupt the movement thereof at a point spaced from said mechanism while said first mentioned Acup is elevated above the conveyor, and means for retracting both of said stops in timed relation to the movements of said conveyor.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of an endless continuously moving conveyor for advancing a succession of cups along a predetermined path, a mechanism for operating upon each cup in a predetermined position, a stop movable into and cut of the path of said cups and operable when in said path to arrest the motion of the cup, means for elevatingthe cup thus stopped to said mechanism in timed relation to said conveyor and then to lower the cup, a second stop adapted to be projected into the path of the next cup on said conveyor and interrupt the movement thereof at a point spaced from said mechanismand engageable with the lower portion of the cup to interrupt the motion thereof by said conveyor vwhile the rst mentioned cup is raised above the conveyor, and stationary means disposed above and spaced closely adjacent the open end of said latter cup when thus stopped and acting to prevent tipping of the cup by the conveyor.

14. In a machine of the character described, a mechanism stationarily mounted and arranged to operate upon the open end of a cup presented thereto, an endless conveyor mounted beneath said mechanism and adapted to support a series of cups in spaced relation, means supporting said conveyor for bodily movement toward andfrom said mechanism, means for driving said conveyor continuously to advance the cups thereon past said mechanism, a stop mounted on said supporti-ng means for vertical movement into and out of the path of said cups and positioned to arrest the movement of successive cups opposite said mechanism, said stop being adjustable relative to said conveyor in a direction longitudinally of the latter, means on said supporting means for elevating the cup engaged by said stop and presenting the same to said mechanism, and a common means for actuating said 'stop and elevating means in timed relation.

15. In a. filling and capping machine of the character described, the combination of a frame,

a horizontal support mounted on said frame for vertical adjusting movement, a pair of drums rotatably mounted on said support, an endless belt conveyor extending around said drums, a power driven shaft extending parallel to the axes of said drums and rotatably supported by said frame, lling and capping mechanisms disposed above said conveyor and adapted to be actuated from said shaft, a second shaft extending perpendicular to said ilrst mentioned shaft and mounted on said support to swing about the axis of the latter shaft, and beveled gears connecting opposite ends of said second shaft to said rst mentioned shaft and one of said drums respectively, and maintained in engagement with the first mentioned shaft and the drum in the different vertical positions of said support.

16. In a. machine of the character described for filling and capping a succession of containers, the combination of filling and capping mechanisms arrangedA in spaced relation and stationarily mounted, an endless conveyor for supporting a succession of the containers to be filled and advancing the containers successively to said mechanisms, a support for said conveyor movably mounted beneath said mechanisms for vertical adjustment, stationarily mounted power driven means for actuating said mechanisms, and

shafts and intermeshing gears providing a permanently engaged driving connection between said driving means and said conveyor and adapted to remain engaged in driving relation 'during vertical adjustment of said support.

17. In amachine of the character described, the combination of an endless horizontal belt convey n' adapted to support a succession of cups in spaced relation and movable continuously, a iiller disposed above said conveyor and operable periodically to discharge measured quantities of material into the cups presented thereto, means supporting a stack of cups above said conveyor, an elevating device beneath the cups in said stack adapted to be raised above and lowered below the conveyor periodically, and means operating automaticallywhen said device is above 'the conveyor to release the lowermost cup from said stack, the released cup being lowered onto said conveyor in the subsequent downward movement of said device.

SWAN F. ANDERSON. 

